1.31.2009

I'm ending January on a high note. It's been a rough month, and those of you who know the full story could probably attest to that fact.

Recovered from Christmas, nearly killed myself during an icy walk to work, suffered some changes at work, took a weeks vacation (during which I discovered my inability to relax), and returned to work while attempting to settle into a new department. And then I got sick.

Upon my arrival at work yesterday, I (in a hoarse whisper) asked one of our department leads, "could I work any cases that don't require talking?" He laughed at me.

All that and I still feel like it was a good month. This blog received above normal traffic. Not as good as December, but still above average. For months, most of my visits have been referred from HBO. Throughout this winter, however, my HBO traffic has diminished. Yet I've been able to maintain steady readership with less of Dave's help. I must be doing something right.

Now we begin the Month of February - black history month, the shortest month of the year, and home to my least favorite holiday - Valentine's Day. I have high hopes.

Over the next 28 days, I'm going to continue tweaking the layout here. Let me know what you like or don't like. Keep an eye on the ten random songs section of my side bar, you'll probably discover more about who I am there than you would in hours of conversation. I'll also be trying an experiment here next month. I won't tell you what it is, because I don't want to spoil it. But keep checking back, we'll see how it goes by the end of the month.

1.29.2009

Today was my first real day in my new position. After a day of transition and two days of training, my transfer has been completed. It is a little weird to sit down and actually do some of these things that I've spent the last few years teaching other people to do. But all is well; I've got my new desk. And for the first time in four and a half years, I have a fixed schedule - one that's set in stone (or at least wet concrete).

On the wall above my new desk is one of those motivational posters. Underneath the picture of a butterfly in a field of orange flowers is the title CHANGE. And the motivational message: The one thing that remains constant is change.

1.12.2009

I started at 186.6 pounds. Today's weight.... 185. I lost a pound and a half.

HOORAY! (sounds of my inner voices cheering) I know, it's just a pound and a half. But it's a start. 40 more pounds to go and Bekah will let me get a big screen TV! However, at this rate, it'll take me 156 weeks to get there. At least by then my kids will be old enough to know not to bang stuff against the TV screen.

1.11.2009

Walking to work this week has been challenging. It's only 2 miles, take me about 40 - 45 minutes... in dry weather - something we've not seen in a few weeks. The week began with compact snow & ice on narrow streets. (I've been forced to walk in the street since the sidewalks are buried under mountainous berms of snow.) Midweek, the path turned into alternating chunks of ice and pavement with minor flooding, cold rain, and gusts of wind. Thursday night, all the rain from the receeding day froze - making my final walk of the week a slippery one. In case you're wondering... walking two miles on slick ice is not recomended.

I have to listen to music while walking to work. If I don't, I'll just be grumpy by the time I get there. The music keeps me moving, calms me, and helps me prepare my mind for work. And this past week, it's made me smile. (and considering the how trecherous the roads were, I needed a something to smile about.) Walking through the wind and snow - wading through the slush - a big grin on my face... I'm sure I looked like a goon. But at least I was still smiling when I got to work. There's no better way to start your work day than with a smile on your face.

So, here are three of the songs that made me smile while walking through North Idaho's finest weather.

1.06.2009

Parenting a strong-willed/ADHD preschooler can be a challenge. However, when that child has the imagination of Stan Lee & the Brothers Grimm blended together with a bit of Veggie Tales for good measure - parenting is a bit more entertaining. There's four distinct conversations that really sum up what Christian is all about - four distinct aspects of his personality: easily-distracted creativity, devious logic, misplaced generosity, and near megalomaniacal self-assuredness.

1. He once sat down to tell Bekah a story: Goldilocks & the 3 Bears. It started off normal, but... here's how their conversation went.

"Hey momma I am gonna tell you a story okokok?""Ok buddy.""It's about bears but don't be scared they're nice bears.""All right. I won't be scared go ahead.""Once upon a time there was a mommy bear a daddy bear and a baby bear with sisters and brothers. And one day a little girl came to their house and knocked on the door. Her name was Goldilocks. She asked if she could come in and have dinner and a sleepover party.""Really?""Yeah and then.... oh what's this mom it looks like a wheel? It is a circle it rolls like a wheel what is it mom? Look! Look!""Honey that is a fast food cup lid. We were talking about Goldilocks and the bears. ""Oh yeah! Then a giant whale came and he had lots and lots of teeth. He ate the whole entire world.""What happened to the Goldilocks and the Bears?""Well Superman came to the rescue and flew up to the whale and opened his mouth and pulled the whole world back out and Goldilocks and the Bears lived happily ever after the end. Wasn't that a good story momma?"

2. Remember the monkey we bought him at Zoo Boise - the one he named Moo? Well he has another favorite stuffed monkey with an odd moniker - we took both monkeys with us to Oklahoma. On our return flight he got to introduce this other monkey to a friendly airline employee.

A male flight attendant is checking to see that all passengers have buckled in."Is that your monkey?""Uh-huh.""What's its name?""Little Girl.""It's a little girl?""No.""No." I clarified. "The monkey's name is Little Girl.""Oh, so it's a girl monkey?""No, it's a boy."(in disbelief & bewilderment) "The monkey is a boy named Little Girl."Bekah and I both nodded.(While walking away) "Interesting."

3. On New Years Day, I was picking up some clothes from the floor in Christian's room when he walked in... sniffling and snorting.

"What's wrong, Christian.""Nofing." Snort, snort, chunky inhale."Why are you making those noises?""I sthugck paper utp my noze.""You stuck paper up your nose?""Uh-huh.""Why did you do that kiddo?""Beefcuzhi'msavin it for my teacher."

4. Finally tonight he slayed any fears I had that he'll ever struggle with self-esteem issues. As a part of his bed time routine, I tuck him in then climb onto his bed to chat. I use this time to remind him that I love him, and value him, and to remind him how special he is. His response tonight showed that these chats are having some effect.

"You're a very special kid. You know that don't you?""You're special too, Daddy.""Shhh., no talking. Listen very closely - even when you're making bad choices... even when you misbehave... even when you're acting very naughty... I still love you.""Everybody loves me, Daddy."

Bekah and I must be doing something right as he's turning out to be the most well adjusted (although strange) four year old boy.

About

nic is a geek dad, a professional nerd, a pop-culture junkie, a joyful noise kind of singer (with an emphasis on noise), a sloppy and undisciplined guitarist, and a funky white boy with no sense of rhythm. He is a former actor who still loves the theater, a former architecture student who still loves drafting and design, and a former graphic artist who has lost his touch. He has an artist's heart with very little artistic talent. He is a pessimistic optimist or an optimistic pessimist.

He spends Thursday nights watching movies with his kids and hangs out with his church's worship band on the weekends. His thoughts end up here.The Faithful Geek is nic's exploration of parenthood, corporate life, and the strange intersection where faith and pop culture meet.